Quick Takes Edition 11
Buffalo Bills (6-6)
In many ways the Bills at the Eagles tonight was the sequel to the Thirteen Second Game.
The big take-away the Bills will have regarding the 2023 season, presumably when they fail to make the playoffs (something that was inconceivable back in August), is their failure to react in a timely manner – which one can say is an off-shoot of a greater head coaching problem of being overly conservative.
As early as opening night against the Jets it had become apparent that the offense were an extension of 2022 with the same struggles. While it is natural that no one wants to overreact in September – especially after big wins against the Raiders, Commanders, and Dolphins, the signs of the offense not playing to its potential were all there. Games were squandered in October – excuses were made. The traveling loss to Jacksonville in London. Barely squeaking by the Giants – a game that should never have been close. The Patriots have two wins on the season and one of them was against Buffalo, and of course losses to the Bengals and Broncos which ultimately cost Ken Dorsey his job as offensive coordinator. The problem is this probably came a few weeks too late. It probably should have happened following the Patriots loss – there had been enough source material from this season, and going back to the end of 2022, to have justified that decision.
The Bills have actually looked good since the coordinator change. They solved the Jets last week – a team whose defense had owned them. Solve the Jets and you’ll be on the way to solve your problems.
Going into Philiadelphia against the 9-2 Eagles was a tall order, but it wasn’t insurmountable. A ten point lead at the half? Jalen Hurts largely held in check? I think everyone in #BillsMafia would have signed up for that. The potential game winning drive at the end? You would not have seen that a couple weeks back. However, with the Bills continue to be something that is relatively abstract – they don’t know how to close it out or, if you prefer, they don’t know how to win. The second half proved that. To his credit Hurts got hot in the final thirty-minutes, and the Eagles stormed back. However, the Bills still mounted a gigantic drive at games end that consumed 74 yards in 5:14.
So what’s the problem?
The soft defense. For a team that has lost on Hail Mary’s on more than one occasion, and failing to hold a lead with Thirteen Seconds, you would think they would be able to figure it out. Instead, McDermott has become even more gun shy – more conservative. Too much of a cushion. All of the hard work the defense has done throughout the game – not just against the Eagles, but in games previous, squandered. When a field goal will tie or win the game I will never understand the soft preventive defensive posture. In overtime Romo mentioned on a key 3rd & 4 that it was, “Way too soft coverage.” A concern was kicking the field goal and extending overtime. It never got to that. Philadelphia’s march ended up in the game winning, game ending, touchdown. An excruciating loss? I guess, but it can be put on the shelf with so many others from Hail Murray’s, Vikings, and Chiefs. It’s so cliche and simplistic to say, but they don’t know how to win. Another epic loss. A game in which the the offense had been incredible as compared to previous weeks. A game in which Allen rushed for 81 yards. He threw for 339. All in a loss.
The team is there. The Eagles are a tremendous team – but they were ready to be beaten tonight. All the same the Bills do not win epic games. It’s kind of that simple. Kneeling the end of regulation? Why not a deep pass and a prayer that this very questionable officiating crew might call a pass interference and get a chance at a last second field goal. A team that proved that they could move the ball wasn’t allowed to. The conservative call was to take a knee and a chance in overtime. There are a lot of ways to lose, but to not try shouldn’t be one of them.
So if the team is there, and they’re being held back, and the coordinator has already been fired, the next that has to be looked at is the head coach. This team, with this quarterback, should not be 6-6. No one would have predicted that in August, and they shouldn’t have. However, they’ve been slow to address the coordinator positions – McDermott has been so conservative on the defensive side of the ball his controlling nature has him calling the defense and not filling the position. On the offense he was slow to let Dorsey go, and on the field in game situations he hasn’t been able to close things out.
Make no mistake – McDermott is now coaching for his job. It’s pretty apparent by now. He might be able to save it by some miracle of making the playoffs, but that is now a long shot. At season’s end the review on this team isn’t going to be pretty. This team should not be hovering around .500. Whether they finish 9-8 or 8-7 they shouldn’t be anywhere near that mark. Hard questions will be asked. The Bills had 505 total yards in a loss.
I’ve said previously that McDermott’s legacy is closely resembling that of Schottenheimer and Showalter. An excellent builder, but not a closer. A constructor; not a realtor. This game is just another one added to that resume.